Exploring the Street Wise Boulder Murals
The first snow in Colorado introduced new pigments in the street as well as some much needed precipitation to the Rocky Mountain towns. Street Wise Boulder hosted their second mural festival September 7 to 13. Throughout the nooks and crannies of Boulder leading into Pearl Street, local Colorado artists brought color to the pavement.
Located at the Old Liquor Mart, featured artists included Patrick Kane McGregor, Hoxxoh, Chris Haven, Jessica Moon, Pher0, Ue Sepia, and Koko Bayer. Flurries. Some raindrops couldn’t stop these artists from using their art for activism.
“We are proud. Deemed as an essential business and essential industry, I think it’s an important point we are trying to make; giving back to the community,” says Chief Marketing Officer Joe Hodas of Wana Brands.
The majority of people in prison are people of color by a 4 to 1 ratio. Terrapin and Wana Brands provided the funding and supplies for the mural. Hodas explains further, “putting marijuana money to get individuals with minor cannabis offenses is part of correcting the ills of the failed drug war.”
“Boulder is a tricky town. There’s over 5,000 artists, but no art scene,” Street Wise Boulder volunteer and artist Rick Dallago says. I love putting money in the artists pockets, and theres a lot more then just the blue haired Boulder moms painting trees and waterfalls.
Saturday the 12, The Bus Stop Gallery in Boulder hosted the artists smaller pieces with a chance to see them up close and socially distanced. DJ Erin Stereo brought the beats as people danced, mingled, and soaked in all the art.
The idea behind Street Wise Boulder was to bring social issues into the streets.
“Promote social justice, for BLM, Indigenous rights, and use art as activism,” says Street Wise Boulder founder Leah Brenner Clack. All of the murals around Boulder have themes and symbols of the protests for BLM that have been happening all over the country since George Floyd’s murder.
“There’s not a lot of mural art around Boulder. We’ve always needed it; a platform for artists to express points of discussion. Work that can be done in Boulder,” Clack explains.
